College students' awareness of the epidemic and their mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak

Objective: The objective of the study is to investigate awareness of COVID-19 and the psychological health of college students who were quarantined in dormitories due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and to provide guidance for schools and education departments when publicizing remoting knowledge of epidemic prevention and control and providing psychological counseling for students. Subjects and Methods: From January 9 to 12, 2022, 780 questionnaires, asking about transmission routes and protective measures against COVID-19, were collected from college students who were quarantined in the dormitory of Yan'an University due to the impact of the epidemic. Moreover, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales 21 scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scale were used to evaluate college students' stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep quality. Results: (1) The awareness level and knowledge of epidemic prevention and control among college students from different degree courses were equivalent. College students with urban household residency had a higher awareness of epidemic prevention and control than those living in rural areas. (2) Among the 780 college students, 170 (21.79%) felt stressed; 194 (24.87%) were anxious; 150 (19.23%) people showed depression. (3) Correlation analysis found: (1) Family background: Students with urban household residency are more likely to experience depression (r = -0.090, P < 0.05). (2) Learning status: Anxiety and depression are related to academic performance (r = 0.081, 0.121, P < 0.05). (3) Daily schedule: Sleep quality and schedule are associated with stress, anxiety, and depression (r-sleep = 0.196, 0.204, 0.226, P < 0.05; r-rest = 0.491, 0.458, 0.431, P < 0.05). Conclusion: During the COVID-19 epidemic, college students who were isolated in dormitories had different perceptions of the epidemic due to their different family backgrounds. At the same time, psychological problems such as stress, anxiety, and depression in the isolation period were related to family background, study status, and daily work and rest patterns.